Vettel: I am in good spirits! I knew that this year would be difficult…

25 March, 2014

World champion Sebastian Vettel has admitted he was taken by surprise when it emerged that the Red Bull RB10 was immediately competitive as the 2014 season kicked off in Australia earlier this month.

Team boss Christian Horner has this week been quoted as saying that the RB10’s performance was not a shock in Melbourne despite a disastrous winter season.

But Vettel, who saw his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo qualify and then finish second prior to his disqualification, has admitted that he was surprised in Melbourne.

“The result was no great surprise – what was a surprise was to see that the car is fast and that we can compete at the front. The potential is there,” the German told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“So it gives us hope and that’s why I’m in a good mood,” added Vettel.

After his four consecutive world championship successes, Bild reporter Nicola Pohl suggested to Vettel that he must be travelling to Malaysia feeling frustrated.

But he insisted: “I am in good spirits! I knew that this year would be difficult, but each season has its ups and downs. As for the car, there is still much to learn but there is no reason to hang the head.”

In Melbourne the quadruple world champion said, It’s obviously a tough step for all the teams, all the drivers, a lot of new things to get used to.”

“We know that obviously we’re not in the best shape yet. There are a lot of things we need to solve. Unfortunately, you can’t solve them overnight.” (GMM)